Dry or sensitive skin If you have dry or sensitive skin, preserve the natural oils by not washing your face before you exfoliate, says Laura DuPriest, a cosmetologist and aesthetician in Sacramento, California. Exfoliate once a week or every other week with very gentle scrubs, and don't overwork the skin. Thirty seconds to a minute does the trick, she says. Look for fragrance-free products that contain smaller, smoother granules and light, easily absorbable oils, such as saffron, canola, or grapeseed. Avoid high concentrations of salts and citrus fruit acid, which can aggravate sensitive, sunburned, or chapped skin. Afterward, dab on a soothing moisturizer that contains aloe, chamomile, or lavender, and let the skin calm for several hours before using night or anti-aging treatments, which contain chemicals and acids that can irritate sensitive skin.

Oily or acne-prone skin Remember that exfoliating is designed to remove dead skin cells on the surface—not oil, bacteria, makeup, and dirt stuck deep inside pores, says DuPriest. "Scrubbing your face long and hard will not cure your acne or solve your oily skin," she says. "You'll only make the problem worse by opening up the skin to irritation, infection, and maybe even scarring."

Try scrubs with fruit acids and enzymes, which help control oily skin and unclog pores. After exfoliating, rinse with cold water to close pores.

Aging skin When it comes to scrubs, most anti-aging serums and additives, such as vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, and retinols, do little to nourish the skin's surface, says Brandwith Irwin, MD, a Seattle-based dermatologist. "They don't hurt, but a scrub is only on the skin for a few seconds—not enough time for anti-aging agents to have any real effect," Irwin says. Exfoliating two or three times per week, though, will help turn back the clock. "Dry skin magnifies wrinkles. Exfoliating softens the appearance of wrinkles and leaves skin looking younger, more luminous," explains DuPriest. Reach for products infused with alpha-hydroxy acids, which accelerate the removal of dead skin cells to reveal softer, younger-looking skin. Always massage gently, and avoid pulling on delicate areas, such as the tissue around eyes.

Body scrubs "Anything that works on the face will work on the body, but what works on the body won't necessarily work on the face," says natural-beauty expert Janice Cox of Medford, Oregon. Sugar is good for all skin types and can be used all over your body—and it's less dehydrating than salt scrubs, which are generally too abrasive for the face but still work wonders on feet, elbows, and other rough spots. After exfoliating, wrap yourself in a cotton robe and allow oils to absorb into your skin.